A doctor has admitted taking a vulnerable patient’s phone number from her medical records and texting her in an attempt to start a relationship.

The patient, who has not been named, was recovering from a drug overdose in Tunbridge Wells hospital when she was treated by Arshad Ali.

At a tribunal being heard in Manchester, Dr Ali admitted giving her £20 for a taxi home and using the phone number in her medical records to send her messages while working as a locum doctor in November 2015.

Despite being told to stop texting her, Dr Ali persisted and even offered to buy her a Christmas present.

In an earlier text, the doctor wrote: “Please feel free if you need any medical or financial help I love to help people.”

While he has admitted most of the allegations, he denied touching the patient’s face. The tribunal considered this accusation was likely explained by the woman misinterpreting aspects of a medical examination.

Guidance issued by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) and General Medical Council classifies his use of medical records to get her phone number as predatory behaviour.

Because of the seriousness of his actions a panel may decide to stop him practising medicine in future when the hearing ends.

The next stage of the process will involve deciding if his behaviour has, in the terms used by the tribunal service, impaired his fitness to practice.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said Dr Ali worked at its hospitals for short spells in 2015 and 2016 but hasn’t returned since February 2016.

The trust has declined to comment on the case until the result of the tribunal is published however, a spokesperson said any concerns raised about care or service are investigated.

The decision was handed down in private, however MPTS is aiming to release it to the public by the end of the week